Abstract. This study was carried out to determine morphometric and meristic characteristics of two populations (wild and cultured) of Cichlasoma festae and to establish whether populations could be discriminated based on morphometric variability. Twenty-two morphometric and four meristic characters were used to test the hypothesis differentiation. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) from 100 adult specimens showed significant differences (p < 0.05) for 21 standardized morphometric measurements out of 26 characters among the means of the wild and cultured Cichlasoma festae populations tested. Cross correlation amongst certain morphometric variables (i.e. body weight, total length, standard length, pre-ventral length, AC1, LC1 and P1) were medium-strong (r ≥ 0.5), while the remaining were weakly correlated (r < 0.5). The length-weight relationship parameter b and condition factor (K) values were respectively 2.21 and 1.97 (indicating allometric growth) for cultured fish groups and 2.86 and 4.07 (p < 0.05) for wild fish groups. The condition factor values were significantly different from each other and showed that feeding of cultured fish should be improved. Both groups were accurately separated (> 80 % success rate) by linear discriminant functions that included only four morphometric measures.

Purpose:Brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have been successfully treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Metastases to extra-cranial sites may be treated with similar success using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), where image-guidance allows for the delivery of precise high-dose radiation in a few fractions. This paper reports the authors’ initial experience with image-guided SBRT in treating primary and metastatic RCC.Materials and methods:The image-guided Brainlab Novalis stereotactic system was used. Fourteen patients with 23 extra-cranial metastatic RCC lesions (orbits, head and neck, lung, mediastinum, sternum, clavicle, scapula, humerus, rib, spine and abdominal wall) and two patients with biopsy-proven primary RCC (not surgical candidates) were treated with SBRT (24-40 Gy in 3-6 fractions over 1-2 weeks). All patients were immobilised in body cast or head and neck mask. Image-guidance was used for all fractions. PET/CT images were fused with simulation CT images to assist in target delineation and dose determination. SMART (simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy) boost approach was adopted. 4D-CT was utilised to assess tumour/organ motion and assist in determining planning target volume margins.Results:Median follow-up was nine months. Thirteen patients (93%) who received SBRT to extra-cranial metastases achieved symptomatic relief. Two patients had local progression, yielding a local control rate of 87%. In the two patients with primary RCC, tumour size remained unchanged but their pain improved, and their renal function was unchanged post SBRT. There were no significant treatment-related side effects.Conclusion:Image-guided SBRT provides excellent symptom palliation and local control without any significant toxicity. SBRT may represent a novel, non-invasive, nephron-sparing option for the treatment of primary RCC as well as extra-cranial metastatic RCC.

To better determine the ecological variation (body shape and structure) of the Vieja Azul (Andinoacara rivulatus; syn.: Aequidens rivulatus) in northwest Ecuador (Los Ríos Province), 300 specimens of both sexes (150 male and 150 female) were collected from 3 different locations, one from a wild production system and two from fish farm populations in the Quevedo River. Twelve meristic, 26 traditional morphometric, and 32 truss measurements, among 25 anatomical landmarks, were determined. The body weight (BW), total length (TL), eye diameter (ED), dorsal fin ray length (DFRL), and body perimeter 3 (P3) showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between production systems, and sex had significant influence on preanal length (Pre-AL), P3, and body width 2 (LC2). Females showed higher mean values than males in all measurements, except for BW. The Fulton factor differed for both factors considered. The canonical discriminant analysis revealed a percentage of correct assignment of 64.42% for the dataset, 85% and 60.9% for cultured and wild females, and 62.1% and 56.3% for wild and cultured males, respectively, as well as morphometric variation between groups. Results could be attributed to environmental conditions (habitat, temperature, and food). The Mahalanobis test showed greater distances among females than among males. In conclusion, this study provides valuable morphological information on the shape and structure of Andinoacara rivulatus that can be used to characterize and quantify the changes that occur as a consequence of adaptation to a different habitat. The authors hope that the information obtained from the present study will be helpful for fisheries, biologists, and taxonomists. Research ArticleThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CAEZ et al. / Turk J Zool 517 2. Materials and methods Ethical noteThe study was carried out according to the Ecuadorian national recommendations for fish management, with consideration for the rules on animal welfare. Study area and data samplingThis study was carried out in Los Ríos Province (Ecuador). The climate of the area is tropical with an average temperature of 25 °C, annual rainfall of 2400 mm, and relative humidity of 82%. Wild fish were caught from 3 separate locations within their natural geographic distributions in the Quevedo River (Los Ríos Province, Ecuador). Cultured fish were collected from 2 fish farms A total of 300 Andinoacara rivulatus individuals (150 wild and 150 cultured, of both sexes) were obtained at random from weekly catches made following the procedure described by Konings (1989) in 2017. All individuals were healthy adult fish. In the river, diurnal catches were made by native fishermen following the procedures described by Frost and Kipling (1980), Chávez-Lomelí et al. (1988), and Konings (1989. On the farms, fish were caught using standard fishing equipment. Farmed fish were fed 3 times per day, adjusting the consumption to 1.5% biomass. The diet composition was 32% crude protein, 7% fat, 5% crude ...

Background Inherited kidney diseases are one of the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that manifests before the age of 30 years. Precise clinical diagnosis of early-onset CKD is complicated due to the high phenotypic overlap, but genetic testing is a powerful diagnostic tool. We aimed to develop a genetic testing strategy to maximize the diagnostic yield for patients presenting with early-onset CKD and to determine the prevalence of the main causative genes. Methods We performed genetic testing of 460 patients with early-onset CKD of suspected monogenic cause using next-generation sequencing of a custom-designed kidney disease gene panel in addition to targeted screening for c.428dupC MUC1. Results We achieved a global diagnostic yield of 65% (300/460), which varied depending on the clinical diagnostic group: 77% in cystic kidney diseases, 76% in tubulopathies, 67% in autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease, 61% in glomerulopathies, and 38% in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. Among the 300 genetically diagnosed patients, the clinical diagnosis was confirmed in 77%, a specific diagnosis within a clinical diagnostic group was identified in 15%, and 7% of cases were reclassified. Of the 64 causative genes identified in our cohort, seven (COL4A3, COL4A4, COL4A5, HNF1B, PKD1, PKD2, and PKHD1) accounted for 66% (198/300) of the genetically diagnosed patients. Conclusions Two-thirds of patients with early-onset CKD in this cohort had a genetic cause. Just seven genes were responsible for the majority of diagnoses. Establishing a genetic diagnosis is crucial to define the precise etiology of CKD, which allows accurate genetic counseling and improved patient management.

Debido al gran avance que se ha producido en los últimos años en el ámbito de la investigación científica, no sólo disponemos cada vez de más información si no que esta es a su vez más compleja. Las revisiones exploratorias permiten sintetizar la evidencia existente respecto a un tema en salud incorporando diferentes diseños de estudio, intervenciones y medidas de impacto con el fin de generar nuevas hipótesis, líneas de investigación o proponer métodos de trabajo más adecuados para futuras investigaciones. Esto es posible aplicando criterios de evaluación de la calidad de los documentos encontrados y del grado de evidencia científica.

Abstract:Ecuador is considered the fishing capital of the Southeastern tropical Pacific with more than 900 native species. Cichlasoma festae represents an economic important freshwater species of much local use. Thus, in this study, our goal was to characterize this fish species during juvenile stages, as the first step for its conservation and valuation, and also for the preparation of proposals for sustainable rural development and formulation of plans for environmentally responsible fisheries management. The study lasted 25 weeks and was undertaken in the ictiohidrographic area of Province of Los Rios, which accounts for 35 % of native fish species in Ecuador. Weekly, the individual biometric parameters total length (L), body width (BW) and body depth (BD) of 90 juveniles of C. festae were measured. Growth was determined using non-linear biological regression models. The average standard length varied between 6.30 cm and 12.25 cm and the average weight varied between 4.99 and 35.71 g. The length-weight relationship was best fit by the equation lnW = -3.92 + 2.96 ln(L), and the species presented negative allometric growth. Finally, the best fit for the growth of C. festae was the Von Bertalanffy's model where L ∞ = 19.758 cm, k = 0.028 cm week -1 and t 0 = -14.463 week -1 . We concluded that to support sustainable and reliable fisheries production studies, the growth record from length may be obtained with standard methods as those evaluated in this study, or may be obtained with new safer tools such as photogrammetry. Rev.

This study was conducted to determine the composition of cultured and wild Cichlasoma festae in Ecuador. The mean slaughter yield and dress-out were similar for cultured and wild specimens and the average fillet fat content for cultured fish was significantly higher compared to the wild fish. The pH, fillet color, drip loss and coked loss were similar between populations. Significant differences were found in protein, lipid and ash content in both studied populations. This study showed that saturated fatty acid (SFA) was higher than sum of monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in both populations. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids had the maximum percentage of SFA, MUFA and PUFA respectively. In cultured and wild fish was also found to differ in the PUFA/SFA, docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid, n-3/n-6 ratios and atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices. Minerals included Ca, P, K, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn. There were significant differences in the first six ones. The production system (cultured or wild) influences significantly most of the analyzed characteristics of carcass and flesh of C. festae. These results provide valued nutritional information of native species to produce sources of food with low-fat and high-protein, and safety food for the consumers in Ecuadorian country.

SummaryFrom March to July 2000, four seabird colonies in coastal ecosystems of Sinaloa, northwest Mexico were visited: on islets, a sandy beach and a long-abandoned salt-panning flat. There were partial and total breeding failures, most of them due to human activity. Amongst colonies of nine species, the breeding success of three was severely affected. All 250 Royal Tern Sterna maxima eggs were taken for direct consumption; 50% (75) of Bluefooted Booby Sula nebouxii chicks were killed for crab (Portunidae) fishing; and in a Least Tern Sterna antillarum colony (97 pairs), 50% failed due to disturbance from a fishing championship. Some of these species have priority status within Mexican and international conservation regulations. Certain aspects of these problems are discussed, and actions are suggested to balance conservation and the development of economic activities.